His smile returned as he plucked a papaya, then used a pocketknife to expertly peel and seed the fruit. The vibrant orange flesh looked so tender it made her mouth water. She leaned forward to enjoy the heady fragrance, and he passed her a wedge.

The fruit was mushy and mild and odd. She scrambled for something nice to say, but it turned out there was no need. Gray seemed to be reading her mind.

“The taste doesn’t live up to the color, does it?”

He promised that she’d like kiwi fruit better, and she did. After the kiwi, he shared a mango and an avocado with her. She’d heard of these fruits but never seen them before and was completely entranced. She fingered petals, sniffed blossoms, and tested the soil.

But when she asked to see the orchids, he smoothly diverted the conversation by showing her an African cherry orange and explaining how it differed from those grown in Florida. He explained the hot water piping system used to keep the tropical greenhouse warm and humid, and how he had transported the various plants during his long ocean voyages.

It felt like paradise, but she needed to search for Dr. Norwood’s orchid. “Can we see the orchid greenhouse?” she asked again late in the afternoon.

He glanced at his pocket watch. “It’s time to change for dinner.”

She helplessly looked down at her red gingham dress. “This is all I’ve got.”

“Perfectly fine,” he assured her. “I won’t change either. I’m just warning you, because for all his rowdy behavior, Luke is a sharp dresser and likely to be in black coat and tie. He enjoys the trappings of high society.” He stood and held out his arm. “Let’s head back to the farmhouse, where you can freshen up. We can discuss the orchid at dinner.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said, determined not to be discouraged by his suddenly somber mood.

Six

Gray leaned closer to the mirror as he dragged the straight-edged razor along his jawline. Shaving before dinner was a rarity for him, but he wanted to look respectable tonight. He had asked Mrs. Jenkins to pull out all the stops with the evening meal, using a variety of exotic spices he had traveled the world to collect. Normally they weren’t so formal out at the farmhouse, but he wanted this night to be special.

Why was he so fascinated with Annabelle Larkin? This sort of attraction was out of character for him, and he couldn’t pinpoint how she’d captured his interest with such ease. Maybe because she understood his work so well?